Interchangeable building construction unit



Nov. 30, 1943. P. J. MlNcK 2,335,433

INTERCHANGEABLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 'UNIT Filed Jan. 8, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1- le Z /2 @T TOP/v5 ns.

, Nov. 30, 1943.

P. J. MlNcK INTERCHANGEABLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION vUNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 8, 1941 Patented Nov. 30, 15943` UNITED STATE S PATENT GFFICEINTERCHANGEABLE BUILDING CONSTRUC- TION UNIT This invention relates tobuilding construction and particularly to a concrete unit to bepreformed and to be set up on the job to form selectively the wall andthe iioor support of a building. It is a primary object of the inventionto provide an exceedingly simple unit that may be readily molded anddelivered to the job Without further work on the unit to have the uniterected and bolted one to another to form the building structure.

A further primary object of the invention is to incorporate in thebuilding unit means for anchoring lath or the like on the insides of theunits to support plastering or the like. A still further importantobject of the invention is to form the individual structural units insuch manner that they may serve as conduits for Warm or cold air as maybe desired for heating and air conditioning of the building.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, such as the simple meansfor uniting one unit with another, application of reenforcing means, andthe general labor saving found in employing the units, will become moreapparent to those versed in the art in the following description of oneparticular form of the invention as illustrated f in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in inside elevation of a pluralityof the structural units embodying the invention and assembled in a wall;

Fig. 2, a View in transverse section on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a view in side elevation of a single unit mounted on a typicalfoundation wall indicated in section;

Fig. 4, a detail in transverse section of a corner construction'assemblyembodying the individual units;

Fig. 5, a detail in partial section through a foundation wall showingthe supporting arrangement thereon of the units when used both in a Walland for floor support; and

Fig. 6, a view in transverse section through one distance from the outerface of the wall section II to the terminal edge of each leg I3determines the thickness of the wall formed upon assembling the unitsone at the side of another.

Across one end of each unit is formed an end wall I4 having its outersurface in the same plane as are the outer surfaces ofl each of the legsI2 and I3. Each unit I0 is provided with a plurality of spaced apartholes I5 through the legs I2 and I3 and within these holes arepositioned resilient collars or sleeves I6 made out of any suitablematerial in the nature of rubber or synthetic rubber.

Then each unit I0 is further provided, particularly when it is to beused for wall construction, with tacking strips II and I8, one againsteach of the inner faces of the legs I2 and I3. Preferably, although notnecessarily so, crossbars I9 are provided'to retain the strips II and I8in spaced, apart relation and in contact with the inner faces of thelegs I2 and I3. These strips I'I and IB and the crossbars I9 may be madeout of any suitable material to receive nails or other securing `meansto support metal or Wood lath thereacross. Wood may be used for theseelements I'I, ISand I9.

To form a wall, one unit I9 is set up on the top side of a foundationWall 20. Preferably the foundation wall 20 is provided with lan outerupwardly projecting aligning rib 2l against which the outer face of thewall section II may be abutted with the lower ends of the legs I2 and I3resting on the top face of the foundation 29. The unit I0 is positionedto have the cross wall I4 at its upper end as indicated in Fig. l.

The next unit Ill is similarly positioned on the foundation 20 to haveits leg I3 in abutting contact throughout its height with the leg I2 ofthe rst positioned unit I0. Bolts 22 are passed through the sleeves i6in both the abutting legs I2 and I3, the bolts being passed through thestrips I1 and I8 and there secured by nuts screwthreadedly engaging thebolts. The use of the sleeves IB take care of any slight misalignmentthat may exist between the two adjacent units I0 and that also may existin the spacing of the holes in one leg in reference to those in anotherleg. Furthermore, it is to be noted that the bolts do not bear at anyplace in direct contact with the concrete of which the units are .formedso that danger of cracking or breaking the concrete is thus avoided. Theuse of the strips I'I and I8 (the strips being themselves resilient innature) extends the pressure produced by the bolts over a considerablearea reaching beyond the immediate 1 area of the bolt head.

One unit after another is thus aligned on the foundation 20 until thedesired length of wall is secured. The upper ends of the assembled lineof units III receives rafter plate 23 or the like, to be ysecured to theunits by any suitable means, such as by bolts 2| passing through theplate 23 and down through the cross wall I4. This plate 23, of course,further aids in maintaining the alignment of the units III along thewall.

In reference to the strips I1 and I 8 and the spacing bars I9, thesestrips and their spacing bars may be made up in units and then inserted.into position between the respective legs I2 and 'suitable material,such as the synthetic resins that may be likewise molded. In any event,there is preferably incorporated in each unit I suitable reenforcingmeans, particularly through the legs I2 and I3. In the present form, acontinuous reenforoing rod or bar 25 is used to extend longitudinallythrough each leg I2 and I3, integrally across through the wall I4, andintegrally across in exposed relation between the lower ends of thoselegs I2 and I3. As herein indicated,this reenforcing bar 25 in each unitI0 is spaced outwardly in the legs beyond the bolt holes I5.

After the wall has been formed as above indicated, with the lower endsof the respective units I0 resting on the foundation wall 20, additionalconcrete 26 is preferably employed to be fl'owed into the lower end ofeach unit Ill to embed the initially exposed cross part of thereenforcing rod 25. As indicated in the drawings, Figs. '1-3, thisconcrete 26 may -be carried around downwardly on the inside of thefoundation 20. Further, to provide a water-tight seal between abuttingunits I0, a groove '21 is molded longitudi-v nally in each vside of theunit just inside of Vthe outer face thereof.V Then when the two adjacentunits are bolted together, the groove 21 in oney unit will match withthe groove 21 in the adjacent unit and thereby provide a continuous4passageway fromtop to bottom between the assembled units. Thispassageway may then be lled with any suitable sealing material,preferably of a plastic nature.

The unit I0, as above described, may not only be used in multiple toform a building wall but they may also be used to form a supportingstructure for a floor, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Fr this purpose,the foundation is provided with a suitable shoulder 28 which may be ator below the top of the foundation, herein shown as being below. Theumts I0 have their ends resting on this shoulder 28 to have either thelegs turned downwardly or upwardly, herein shown as having the legsturned upwardly with' the wall section Il undermost. Then after thefloor area has been filled in vwith these units, one alongside the otherand suitably secured together, as above indicated, by bolts 22, thefloor may be built thereover such as by placing expanded metal lathacross the upper sides of the legs of the units and concrete or likematerial Where, the space between the legs of each unit Itis to be usedas a conduit for air dow, the legs are turned upwardly, as indicated inFigs. 4 and 5. and as -will be noted,1.this space in the door units Itwill open in part at least into like spaces in the upright umts vIl l.Of course the units III will have to be turned end for end to preventthe cross end walls I4 from interrupting the flow from the floor to thewall unit. The

'units Il, when used in the floor, maybe disposed to have the end wallsI4 alternately spaced,

. one at one end and one at the other end on the respective supportingfoundation walls. On the other hand, where the unit II) is'to conductair in both longitudinal directions in the floor,

the end wall Il may be omitted in those par-v ticular umts. vWhenthe'units I0 are employed in the floor construction, then it is notnecessary to use the fill-in concrete 26 in the lower ends of theupright units I0, particularly if the horizontal umts are to be used asair conduits.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the use of the, units I0, constructed as aboveindicated, permits a very substantial corner construction'sinee the.bolts 22 `inl the two end units at the corner may be ear.

ried through a vertically positioned angle iron 29 and then a finishcorner strip 33 employed to ll in between those two adjacent units Il.

`Reference is made particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 6 wherein-insulatingmeans is illustrated. Where it is desired to insulate the wall of thebuilding employing the units .of the invention.. the strips Il and I3are-reduced in width and have a wall 3| secured to ltheir rear edgestoleave a space between that wall and the inner face of the wall II of theunit.v `Suitable insulating material 32, which may be mineral wool, suchas rock wool, glass wool, or any non-deteriorating material of likenature, is poured or packed in where it is made out of concrete and thelike, is

prevented. It is conceivable, of course, that the insulating material 32may be omitted and the wall 3| itself be made out of insulating materialso that an air space is left for insulation in place of employing theinsulating material 32;.

While the invention has been discussed in more or less minute detail, itis obvious that structural changes may ba employed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, such, for example, as in theparticular meansfor aligning the units on Ithe foundation and theresecuring them, and it is, therefore, desired thatthe invention not beliimted tovthat precise form beyond the limitations as may be' imposedby the following claims.

tion to form a wall with a pair .of equal length legs extending in thesame direction one from each side edge ofthe wall, each leg having aplurality of spaced apart holes therethrough, insulating meanscomprising a pair of fibrous side strips and a wall of insulatingmaterial secured to and spacingV apart said strips tohave leach strip-in substantial contact with the inner 0990sing faces of said legs, saidstrips having holes therethrough aligned axially with said leg holes,-

and bolt-like means 'extending through said strips poured thereover andnnished toa oor level. and said leg holes, whereby a plurality of saidmembers may be placed side by side, one'leg of one member in contactwith a leg of another member and joined together resiliently.

2. A building construction member comprising a pre-formed, narrow,trough-like unit generally U-shaped in transverse section to form a wallwith a pair of equal length legs-extending in the same direction onefrom each side edge of the wall, each leg having a plurality of spacedapart holes therethrough, and a resilient collar in each of the holes,whereby a. plurality of said members may be placed side by side to bejoined one to another by bolts through said collars in adjacent legs, a,pair of resilient side strips and awall secured to and spacing apartsaid strips to have each strip in substantial contact with the inneropposing faces of said legs, said strips having holes therethroughaligned axially with said co1- lars, and bolt-like means extendingthrough said strips and said collars, said strips being less in widththan said faces to space said secured wall a. distance from said unitwall to leave a conduit therebetween.

3. A building construction member comprising a pre-formed, narrow,trough-like unit generally U-shaped in transverse section to fdrm a wallwith a pair of equal length legs extending in the same direction onefrom each side edge of the wall, each leg having a plurality of spacedapart holes therethrough, and a resilient collar in each of the holes,whereby a plurality of said members may be placed side by side to beJoined one to another by bolts through said collars in adjacent legsl apair of resilient side strips and a wall of relatively non-heatconducting material secured to and spacing apart said strips to haveeach strip in substantial contact with the inner opposing faces of saidlegs, said strips having holes therethrough aligned axially with saidcollars, and bolt-like means extending through said strips and saidcollars, said strips being` less in width than said faces to space saidsecured wall a distance from said unit wall to leave a conduittherebetween, and insulating material compressively secured in saidconduit by pressure of said secured wall thereagainst.

4. A building construction member comprising a pre-formed,- narrow,trough-like unit generally U-shaped in transverse section to form a wallwith a pair of equal length legs extending in the same direction onefrom each side edge of the wall, each leg having a plurality of spacedapart holes therethrough, and a resilient collar in each of the holes,whereby a plurality of said members may be placed side by side to bejoined one to -another by bolts through the said collars in adjacentlegs, a pair of nail penetrable and retaining side strips and a wallsecured to and spacing apart said strips to have each strip insubstanstantial contact with the inner opposing faces of said legs, saidstrips having holes therethrough aligned axially with said collars, andhole-like means extending through said strips and said collars, saidsecured wall being formed of insulating material, a cross-wall betweensaid legs at the top end of said unit, and said secured wall extendingupwardly to said cross-wall.

PETER. J. MINCK.

